Funding for the workshop was made possible by a Mathematics and Science Partnership Grant from the Kansas State Department of Education.

"The 'Impress Grant' was designed to give elementary teachers the background knowledge needed to teach science, especially Earth science," said Stramel.

"During the first week, the teachers were geologists as they studied the Earth's formations, looked at fossils, weathering and erosion, and rocks and minerals," she said. "The second week's focus was on Earth and space science. During this week, teachers focused on the solar system and the moon and sun."

Participants visited the exhibits and inner-workings of Exploration Place in Wichita and created videos for students and other educators.